Transformable trunk.



No. 693,973. Patented Feb. 25, I902.

F. E. KNIGHT. TRANSFORMABLE TRUNK.

7 (Application filed. Dec. 27, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRNK KNIGHT, OF GRINNELL, IOWA.

TRANSFORMABLE TRUNK.

$IEGIFIUATIION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 693,973, datedFebrnary25, 1902.

I Application filed December 27, 1900. Serial No. 41,219. (No modelJ ToaZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANKE. KNIGHT,a citizen of the United States,residing at Grinnell, in the county of Poweshiek and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Transformaole Trunk, of which the following isa specification.

My object is to provide a portable trunk with a hinged cover that can'be swung upward and reversed,'so as to bring its rear portion to thefront, and inverted and supported in an elevated position to beadvantageously used as a desk for writingv thereon, while the trunk anda movable tray in the trunk remain stationary. 1

My invention consists in the construction,

arrangement, and combination of parts, as

hereinafterset forth,poiuted out in my claims,

and illustrated in the accompanying draw:

ings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view showing thetrunk closed, and Fig. 2 is a corresponding view showing the hinged topportion of the trunk in an inverted and elevated position as requiredfor practical use as a table or desk. Dotted lines indicate the positionof the hinged top when itis simply swung upward and retained in avertical position as required in opening the trunk to gain accessthereto for moving the tray in and out and packingand unpacking. Fig.3is a detail view of a locking device adapted for-retaining the hingedtop in a vertical'position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The letter A designatesthe bottom portion of a trunk that may vary insize as desired.

The front A is lower than the back B, and the matiugends Care inclineddownward at their top edges and rear portions to the level of the topedge of the front A as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The mating ends D of thehinged top are fitted to the mating ends 0 of the lower portion of thetrunk and fixed tov the ends of the fiat top F, that is hinged to thetop edge of the fixed back B, and H is the front fixed to the matingends 0 and the fiat top F.

The top portion of the trunk is connected with the top of the-back ofthe lower portion by means of duplex strap-hinges. The main part m ofeach has a hinged extension m at one end fixed on the outside and rearportion of the top F, and an elbow m" at its other end adapted tooverlie the'corner, and to the end of the elbow is hinged another strapm,adapted to be fixed to the outside of the back 13 in such a mannerthat the duplex hinges can assume position as shown in Fig. 2 to aid inmaintaining the top in an elevated and inverted position. An additionalhinged connection between the lower portion of the trunk and the hingedand invertible to in straight'metal straps n and elbow-shaped straps nbeing pivotally connected, and the ends of the straight straps n pivotedto the inside faces and front portions of the mating ends 0 of thebottom portion and the ends of the elbows n to the rear and top cornersof the mating ends D of the hinged upper portion in such a manner thatthey will fold into position as shown in Fig. 1 when the trunk tion ofthe trunk, support a removable tray 9,

that is placed on the cleats. I

To retain the hinged top ina vertical position, as shown by dotted linesin Fig. 2, coincidin g slots are formed in the top Fand straps m toadmit the passage of turn-buttons s, that are mounted on the inner endsof bearers 8, fixed to the straps m insuch-a manner that they will allowthe turn-buttons to pass outward into position, as shown in Fig. 2. Whenthe hingedtop is adjusted, as shown by dotted lines, theturn-buttons'overlie the inside face of the top and lock the top F andthe portions consists parts m and m of the duplex hinges'iu paral leloverlying position, as required to retain the top stationary in avertical position.

It is obvious the trunk may be provided with a lock and covered withleather or other.

suitable material and finished in any known style of art.

in Fig. 2, will project forward relative to the stationary lower part ofthe trunk, so that a person seated at the side or front of the invertedand elevated top can extend his knees under it, as required to use thetrunk conveniently and advantageously for the purposes of a desk. I

Having described the construction,arrangement, and combination of thedifferent parts,

It is also obvious that the flat 'top F when in an inverted position, asshown the practical operation and utility of my invention will beunderstood by persons familiar with the art to which it pertains.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent therefor,is

1. In a portable trunk a lower portion that is higher at its back thanat the front, a. top

portion fitted on the top of the lower portion duplex hinges composed ofa central portion that is elbow-shaped at one end and has extensionshinged to each end and the exten sion at the elbow-shaped end fixed tothe back' of the lower portion of the trunk and the extension at theother end fixed on the front portion of the top, to operate in themanner set forth, for the purposes stated.

2. In a portable trunk, a lower portion that is higher at its back thanat the front, a top portion fitted on the top of the lower portion,

faces and front portions of the mating ends of the lower part of thetrunk and the elbowshaped parts pivoted to the upper rear por-v Lions ofthe same mating ends, to operate in the manner set forth, for thepurposes stated.

3.1 In a portable trunk a lower portion that is higher at-its back thanat the front, a top portion fitted on the top of the lower portion,duplex hinges composed of a central portion that is elbow-shaped at oneend and has extensions hinged to each end and the extensions at theelbow-shaped ends fixed to the back of the lower portion of the trunkandthe extension. at the other ,end fixed on the front portion of the top,straight bars and an elbow-shaped bar pivotally connected and the endsof the straight bars pivoted to the inside faces and frontportions ofthe mating ends of the lower part of the trunk and the elbowshaped partspivoted to the upper rear portions of the same mating ends, slots in theinvertible wooden top, coinciding slots in the overlying parts of theduplex strap-hinges, pins fixed to the central members of said hingesand turn-buttons on the ends of said pins, all arranged and combined tooperate in the manner set forth, for the purposes stated.

FRANK E. KNIGHT.

